Petunia plant named ‘Danpetbor’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  plant named ‘Danpetbor’ characterized by having dark Bordeaux colored flowers; very floriferous, with a very long blooming season; spreading growth habit; thrives in hot seasons, and bears its best inflorescence performance during the summer; and suitable for patios and outdoors bedding.

Botanical designation: Petunia sensu Wijsman.

Variety denomination: ‘Danpetbor’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia sensu Wijsman, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Danpetbor’.

The new cultivar originated from cross-made in a controlled breeding program in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female parent is a Petunia sensu Wijsman cultivar designated ‘CV-6381’ (unpatented). The male parent is a Petunia sensu Wijsman cultivar designated ‘CV-144’ (unpatented). ‘Danpetbor’ was discovered and selected by the Inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cutting of side shoots, was first performed in February of 2003 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Danpetbor’ which in combination distinguish this Petunia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Dark Bordeaux flower color;     -   2. Very floriferous and with a very long blooming season;     -   3. Spreading growth habit;     -   4. Thrives in hot seasons, and bears its best inflorescence         performance during the summer; and     -   5. Suitable for patios and outdoors bedding.

Plants of ‘Danpetbor’ differ from plants of the parental cultivars, ‘CV-6381’ (unpatented) and ‘CV-144’ (unpatented) in the following characteristics:

TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent New Cultivar ‘CV-6381’ ‘CV-144’ Character ‘Danpetbor’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Flowering Medium, Medium, Summer Medium, Summer time Summer Leaf size Medium Small Small Length: 3 cm Length: 2 cm Length: 2 cm Width: 1.5 cm Width: 1.5 cm Width: 1.5 cm Growth Spreading Cascading and well Moderately Vigorous habit branched. and not well branched

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present Inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘Danpetbor’ is the cultivar ‘Petitunia Happy Dream’ (unpatented). Plants of ‘Danpetbor’ differ from plants of ‘Petitunia Happy Dream’ in the following characteristics:

TABLE 2 New Cultivar Comparison Cultivar Character ‘Danpetbor’ ‘Petitunia Happy Dream’ Flowering time Medium, Summer Early, Spring Flower size Small-Medium Small Diameter: 4 to 5 cm Diameter: 3.5 cm Depth: 2 to 3 cm Depth: 2 cm Growth habit Spreading Spreading

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia cultivar ‘Danpetbor’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of the ‘Danpetbor’.

The first photograph shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Danpetbor’ in a hanging planter at 3 months of age.

The second photograph shows a close-up view of the typical flowers and leaves of ‘Danpetbor’ at 3 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘Danpetbor’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant. The following observations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grown in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Plants of ‘Danpetbor’ are grow outdoors in a moderate climate, and grown indoors during the winter. Irrigation and fertilization are needed on a regular basis. For optimal growth, grow plants of ‘Danpetbor’ in full sunlight. Plants of ‘Danpetbor’ are fully grown in 3 months when grown in full sunlight, and bloom all year-round in a moderate climate. ‘Danpetbor’ is used as a pot plant and bedding plant.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 12:00 noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the plant described is 3 months.

-   Parentage:     -   -   Male parent.—Petunia sensu Wijsman cultivar designated             ‘CV-144’ (unpatented).         -   Female parent.—Petunia sensu Wijsman cultivar designated             ‘CV-6381’ (unpatented). -   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Petunia sensu Wijsman.         -   Commercial.—Petunia cv. Petitunia Bordeaux Dream. -   Propagation: Cutting of side shoots. -   Plant:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: 25 cm. Spread: 60 cm.             Growth habit: Cascading bush. Growth rate: Fully grown plant             in 3 months. Branching habit and description: Normal             branching habit typical to Petunia species. Flowering             Response: Long day facultative. Flowering Season: All year             round in moderate climate. Winter Hardiness/weather             tolerance: Frost tender. Plants may be damaged by             temperatures below 5° C. Lastingness of the Individual             Bloom: 2 to 4 days. Rooting Habit: From cutting base. Time             to initiate roots: 1 week. Time to produce a rooted cutting:             2 to 3 weeks. Fragrance: None. -   Stem description:     -   -   Length.—45 to 70 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 to 0.6 cm.         -   Strength.—Medium.         -   Branching.—Freely.         -   Pubescence.—Yes.         -   Internode length.—2.5 to 3.0 cm.         -   Internode and stem color.—Yellow-Green Group, RHS 144 A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Elliptic.         -   Apex:—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Length.—3 cm.         -   Width.—1.5 cm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Lustrous.         -   Color of upper surface.—Mature leaf: Yellow-Green Group, RHS             147 A. Immature leaf: Yellow-Green Group, RHS 146 A.         -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: Yellow-Green Group, RHS             146 A. Immature leaf: Yellow-Green Group, RHS 146 A.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group, 144 C.             Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group 144 C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color:             Yellow-Green Group, RHS 144 C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flower longevity.—2 to 4 days.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: 4 to 5 cm. Depth: 2 to 3 cm.         -   Floral tube.—Diameter: 0.7 to 1.0 cm at the corolla surface.         -   Flower shape/type.—Trumpet.         -   Average number of flowers per lateral branch.—6 to 8.         -   Petals.—Number: 5; (all the 5 petals are united). Length: 4             to 5 cm (from the edge of the petal up to the base of the             floral tube). Width: 4 cm across. Shape: Corolla united with             5 lobes and a long straight tube. Apex: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface:             Hirsute. Color: Upper surface: Tube & Petals Borders: Purple             Group, RHS N79 A. Margin: Purple-Violet Group, RHS N81 C.             Center Band: Red-Purple Group, RHS 71 A. Lower surface:             Purple Group, RHS 77 A.         -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Length: 1 cm. Width: 0.2 cm. Shape:             Elliptic. Apex: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Lustrous.             Color: Upper surface: Green Group, RHS 137 A. Lower surface:             Green Group, RHS 137 B.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: 7 to 10 days. Color: Purple Group, RHS             79 A. Shape: Tubular. Length: 2 to 3 cm. Diameter: 0.2 to             1.0 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Color: 3 cm. Length: Green Group, RHS 137 B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 5. Color: Violet Group, RHS             N87 C. Anthers: Color: Violet Group, RHS N88 B. Filament:             Color: Violet Group, RHS N87 C. Pollen: Color: Violet Group,             RHS N88 A.         -   Gynoecium.—Stigma: Color: Yellow-Green, RHS 146 C. Ovary:             Color: Yellow-Green Group, RHS 146 C.         -   Seed.—Number: 40 to 50. Width: 1 mm. Length: 1 mm. Shape:             Ovoid. Color: Brown Group, RHS 200 C.         -   Fruit.—Number: Few, when naturally pollinated. Width: 4 mm.             Length: 8 mm. Shape: Ellipsoid. Color: Grey-Brown Group, RHS             199 A. -   Disease/pest resistance: No information currently available. -   Disease/pest susceptibility: No information currently available. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Danpetbor’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 